Kate deserves something sparkly even if he isn't sure Kate would wear it. Hmmmmm. He shakes his head again.
They need to find something more Victorian and Dark Academia here.]
I feel as if the Dynasty and the Fatui would have an understanding alliance actually. The Bright Queen had a similar sort of court. We did as she requested, though she always looks out for the Dynasty first and foremost.
[Puts it back down... on to the next stall they go. Briefly, he considers letting go of Essek's hand now that he's (temporarily) decided to stop being a brat, but he alpha-ly decides he doesn't want to, so instead he just tugs him along.]
Mm, it's possible. Her Majesty's true adversary isn't the other archons, after all--she's made agreements with them before. [He grins a little.] I only wondered because I've acted as a spy now and then. It's not my preference, though.
[More than anything he really does think Essek would get along with Zhongli, but. He hasn't spoken to Zhongli in ages, so he doesn't bring that up again.
Instead--]
Is there a reason you call her the Bright Queen? [what that means]
[Wow... Childe continues to hold his hand, and he continues to allow himself to be pulled along after, the other arm holding the kit.]
I would have made you suffer in ways beyond merely physical torture until you broke. And if you never did, you would rot in the Dungeon, or die.
[He doesn't say this like a threat, but more like an explanation to what kind of man he was for spies or (hilarious) traitors when he was Shadowhand.]
As the empress of the Kryn Dynasty, she is one of the most important guides for leading worshippers to the Luxon - Lord of Light, First Radiance. The dynasty's deity. They are a symbol of light and rebirth. They emerged as a single Light within the darkness at the creation of the universe.
Anyway, Childe may not be a scholar himself, but he does unfortunately enjoy listening to some nerdy yapping, so he takes all this in with interest and curiosity, slotting it in with what he learned from Essek in that first week, before the Cubeing.]
I see. [Woah... she's Dahlia (no)]
...But you weren't a true worshipper. [He remembers, even though he didn't pry back then about what Essek meant by "fugitive."]
Please enjoy nerdy yapping less. His smirk is small and wry.]
No. I don't believe in the Luxon. I don't know if I believe they even exist. Perhaps they might. But I'm sure the beacons are pieces of the old world of the arcane left behind. I simply want to understand what they were for, what they can do besides the consecution we utilize them for.
[UNFORTUNATELY HE IS JUST LIKE THIS... HE MAY NOT BE A NERD BUT SMART AND POWERFUL PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTIVE OKAY!!! SUE HIM.]
The old world... [Thinks of Khaenri'ah. Damn. Why does this happen every time they talk. But he nods.] And that's why you made that--[What was the term he used? Oh yeah] "transfer," to those companions from your memory?
[He's just guessing at this, but it seems logical.]
[STOP LETTING THIS HAPPEN EVERY TIME!!!! He glances at Childe and then glances away.]
The transfer happened with a collective of powerful mages called the Cerberus Assembly. [Why does this sound so evil? I wonder.] Unfortunately, the Assembly has ties with the Empire, an opposing nation.
I did not trust them entirely, per say, but they were my only option. The only ones with the skills and the resources to study this artifact. Me handing them the beacon in exchange for them giving me everything they learned. Supposedly.
Naturally, when the beacons went missing, the Dynasty blamed the Empire and sent in people to take them back. There was an explosion, and the Empire waged war against the Dynasty in retaliation. In the rubble, the Mighty Nein found one of the beacons I had delivered and, unknowingly, brought it to the queen to return it.
Worse, almost. [His wry laugh is short and quiet.] They coerced me into feeling guilty about my actions and being friends.
Somehow, they found out I was a traitor. They confronted me while I was in disguise at a party following my attempts to negotiate a return trade for the second beacon, and then they interrogated me after paralyzing me and pulling me out.
But they let me go... to try to make things better than I had found it.
[Don't laugh more. Stop that. He will suplex Childe (he can't).]
I wouldn't say I gave it up exactly. I mean - I'm not looking to steal any more beacons, but I am still interested in learning what I can of dunamancy and, now, Aeor, the secrets the city holds.
Mm. [Just a noncommittal hum, because Childe may be chaotic evil, but he is also not so socially inept that he'll be an asshole about Essek's friends right to his face. WHO DOES HE LOOK LIKE... SCARAMOUCHE...
It's still funny though. There's still some humor on his face, undeniably.
[SHUT UP. Sometimes, you get friends and it destroys your world as you know it.
His expression is extremely soft with thoughtfulness. Is this what it means... to have family? The family you pick. He glances up, but is somewhat shy about it.]
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Kate deserves something sparkly even if he isn't sure Kate would wear it. Hmmmmm. He shakes his head again.
They need to find something more Victorian and Dark Academia here.]
I feel as if the Dynasty and the Fatui would have an understanding alliance actually. The Bright Queen had a similar sort of court. We did as she requested, though she always looks out for the Dynasty first and foremost.
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Mm, it's possible. Her Majesty's true adversary isn't the other archons, after all--she's made agreements with them before. [He grins a little.] I only wondered because I've acted as a spy now and then. It's not my preference, though.
[More than anything he really does think Essek would get along with Zhongli, but. He hasn't spoken to Zhongli in ages, so he doesn't bring that up again.
Instead--]
Is there a reason you call her the Bright Queen? [what that means]
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I would have made you suffer in ways beyond merely physical torture until you broke. And if you never did, you would rot in the Dungeon, or die.
[He doesn't say this like a threat, but more like an explanation to what kind of man he was for spies or (hilarious) traitors when he was Shadowhand.]
As the empress of the Kryn Dynasty, she is one of the most important guides for leading worshippers to the Luxon - Lord of Light, First Radiance. The dynasty's deity. They are a symbol of light and rebirth. They emerged as a single Light within the darkness at the creation of the universe.
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Anyway, Childe may not be a scholar himself, but he does unfortunately enjoy listening to some nerdy yapping, so he takes all this in with interest and curiosity, slotting it in with what he learned from Essek in that first week, before the Cubeing.]
I see. [Woah... she's Dahlia (no)]
...But you weren't a true worshipper. [He remembers, even though he didn't pry back then about what Essek meant by "fugitive."]
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Please enjoy nerdy yapping less. His smirk is small and wry.]
No. I don't believe in the Luxon. I don't know if I believe they even exist. Perhaps they might. But I'm sure the beacons are pieces of the old world of the arcane left behind. I simply want to understand what they were for, what they can do besides the consecution we utilize them for.
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The old world... [Thinks of Khaenri'ah. Damn. Why does this happen every time they talk. But he nods.] And that's why you made that--[What was the term he used? Oh yeah] "transfer," to those companions from your memory?
[He's just guessing at this, but it seems logical.]
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The transfer happened with a collective of powerful mages called the Cerberus Assembly. [Why does this sound so evil? I wonder.] Unfortunately, the Assembly has ties with the Empire, an opposing nation.
I did not trust them entirely, per say, but they were my only option. The only ones with the skills and the resources to study this artifact. Me handing them the beacon in exchange for them giving me everything they learned. Supposedly.
Naturally, when the beacons went missing, the Dynasty blamed the Empire and sent in people to take them back. There was an explosion, and the Empire waged war against the Dynasty in retaliation. In the rubble, the Mighty Nein found one of the beacons I had delivered and, unknowingly, brought it to the queen to return it.
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But, hmm. He frowns a little.]
They didn't get you caught, did they?
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Worse, almost. [His wry laugh is short and quiet.] They coerced me into feeling guilty about my actions and being friends.
Somehow, they found out I was a traitor. They confronted me while I was in disguise at a party following my attempts to negotiate a return trade for the second beacon, and then they interrogated me after paralyzing me and pulling me out.
But they let me go... to try to make things better than I had found it.
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can't help laughing at the way Essek describes this
NOT THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP!!!!]
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What's so funny?
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Sorry, sorry. [He is not sorry] They must've been incredibly convincing to get you to give up your passions like that.
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I wouldn't say I gave it up exactly. I mean - I'm not looking to steal any more beacons, but I am still interested in learning what I can of dunamancy and, now, Aeor, the secrets the city holds.
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Mm. [Just a noncommittal hum, because Childe may be chaotic evil, but he is also not so socially inept that he'll be an asshole about Essek's friends right to his face. WHO DOES HE LOOK LIKE... SCARAMOUCHE...
It's still funny though. There's still some humor on his face, undeniably.
Idly curious:] Are you happier with them, then?
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The question surprises him, and it shows a little on his face. He glances away which is obvious answer enough, but he's tsundere, sue him.]
...Yes.
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He still looks amused by the tsun energy, but his smile does soften a little.]
That's what matters, isn't it? If you can still do what you want, and you're happy where you are.
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His expression is extremely soft with thoughtfulness. Is this what it means... to have family? The family you pick. He glances up, but is somewhat shy about it.]
That's what matters.
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Plops a bow on his head]
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Childe! We're looking for Kate, not me!
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You don't want to match with her?